The National tribune., 1887-01-06
MAssA LINKUM'S" MEN.
How and By Whom Was Made the First Entry into
Petersburg.

EDrToRNATIoSAL TRIBUNE: Comrade Hi
ram oldroyd claims the honor for his regiment
1.-THE 10th n. " OF being first 10 enter the cap
tured city OF Petersburg, and disputes the claim
of COmrade Narrower, who stated that the first
70 enter were troops of the Second Brigade,
First Division, Ninth Corps. If Comrade Har-
rover had said Sixth Corps instead Of Ninth, then
believe he would have placed that ration of
glory where it belonged.
shall not dispute the claims as 10 who first
had their c0lors up but will remark that all
the troops / saw there had their colors and
their spirits up very high, while on every side
could be heard, 1--WE have sampled everybody's
canieen." In the statement / shall make in
regard 20 our entering the city | am not
obliged 20 depend upon memory, but have in
hand letter written few days after the event,
and IN which / stated the particulars Us i will
now give them.
In the charge OF the Sixth Corps early in the
morning Of April ., aud which charge cut Lees
army in two. our Second Brigade, First Divis-
ion, was on the extreme right. After the
works were carried and the fighting over on
that part Of the line, our brigade was sent TO
the right near Fort Hell, TO assist the Ninth
Corps in holding the works they had so gal
lantly taken from the rebels in the morning
Upon our arrival there we were placed in the
front line, where a continual fire was kept up
between our troops and the rebels until about
midnight, when the firing on the part of the
enemy ceased. We then began TO suspect that
they were evacuating
About B o'clock a. m. our Colonel (Alcott)
was permitted 10 move the regiment over the
works, deploy skirmishers and advance toward
the enemy. After the line was formed and
four of US had volunteered TO 20 on in advance
Of the line as scouts or feelers, we started
through the darkness toward the city. AS we
reached the lines of earthwOrks and forts, one
after another, we found them unnamed and
the guns spiked. The first habitation we
struck was one occupied by several colored
people near the city. They were up watching
and waiting and how the Darkies shouted
when they saw that we Yanks were Jour-run-
nerS of % assa Linkums army"
We fastened into the city. and a colored
friend escorted us to a large hotel, where he
said we could get refreshments. 1t was not yet
fully daylight All the places were closed and
seemed 10 be waiting for suns rays or the
fanks TO open them up. Stepping through an
aperture made by the butt of musket striking
the front door, which was mostly glass, we
found ourselves in the presence of another
large colored friend who told us in answer 10
our inquiries for refreshments and the proprie-
tor that "Ole massa run, ha, ha," and had
80 taken de keys long, too" We soon convinced
him that an AK was good key, if it did "spile
dat doah shoor," and some of dat ten yer ole
into other vessels. The servants in the kitchen
got us up a good breakfast, for which they
charged $50, and for what know they are
still charging il.
Comrade Oldroyd says he does not know
what time il was when they entered the city.
If il was not before daylight, then they were
not first. i believe we four Yanks were the
first in, and as for our colors, shall never for
get how they were just flying all the while we
were there Our regiment was but q short
time behind us. and / believe the first in the
city. We will admit that our colOrs were not
first on the Court house, the reason being that
our color-bearer was INSTRUCTED, took the
wrong street several times, and did not reach
the Courthouse until he had raised his colors
on everything else in the city. When it is
settled, comrades who was first in, then let us
hear from the Yank who was last 10 get out.
and how he got out with bis colors aud his
samples. JOHN X. TYLER, Co. G., 12lst n.
Y. Options regiment), Westford, N Y,